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- Convenor:
-
Johanna Domokos
(Károli University, Bielefeld University, MMKI Budapest)
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- Discussants:
-
Johanna Domokos
(Károli University, Bielefeld University, MMKI Budapest)
Ildikó Tamás (HUN-REN Hungarian Research Network)
Michael Rießler (University of Eastern Finland)
- Format:
- Panel+Roundtable
- Stream:
- Activism
- Location:
- MR250, MacRobert
- Sessions:
- Tuesday 3 June, -
Time zone: Europe/London
Short Abstract
Unwriting with art and activism the colonial narratives imposed on the Indigenous Sámi culture involves reclaiming their oral traditions, knowledge of the land, and ancestral practices, allowing their stories and identities to flourish beyond the boundaries of imposed histories.
Description
This panel seeks to explore effective unwriting practices in the dynamic and evolving cultural landscape of the Sámi, the Indigenous peoples of Sápmi, whose traditional lands stretch across northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. The Sámi have long maintained a rich cultural heritage characterized by oral traditions, reindeer herding, duodji (handicrafts), yoik (traditional singing), and a deep connection to their natural environment. However, the past century has also seen significant transformations driven by external pressures such as modernization, climate change, state policies, and global Indigenous movements. These changes have prompted Sámi communities to develop new cultural expressions and forms of resilience.
The panel will bring together ethnologists, folklorists, anthropologists, and Sámi scholars to discuss the role tradition in contemporary Sámi cultural developments. It will consider how traditional knowledge systems are being reinterpreted in modern contexts, how Sámi identity is expressed in urban and transnational spaces, and the role of digital platforms in safeguarding and transforming Sámi arts. The panel will also address critical issues reflected in their arts related to land rights, climate justice, and cultural sovereignty in light of global environmental challenges.
Accepted contributions
Session 1 Tuesday 3 June, 2025, -Short abstract
Although the term artivism gained prominence following a 1997 gathering of Chicano artists, the phenomenon itself is much older. One early example is the Sámi CSV ethnocultural movement of the 1970s and 1980s. Groundbreaking literary works such as Nils-Aslak Valkeapää's Terveisiä Lapista (1971) and Kirsti Paltto's Saamelaiset (1973) paved the way for artistic and activist expressions of Sámi identity and sovereignty. Building on this legacy while addressing contemporary urgent issues, the interdisciplinary project Rájácummá – Kiss from the Border (2017–2018) was created by artists Niillas Holmberg, Jenni Laiti, and Outi Pieski. The project integrates environmental community art, poetry, and visual media to engage themes of language contact, cultural identity, and sovereignty. Set within the Deatnu River valley, a borderland between Finland and Norway, Rájácummá comprises eight poetic lines installed in the natural landscape, alongside eight photographs and a lithograph. These elements critically examine Sámi self-determination and sustainable practices concerning land and waterways. Central to the project is the positioning of language as a bridge between culture and the environment, emphasizing reciprocity and respect as core principles of life in the border region. The eight poetic lines, notably written in Sámi rather than the official languages of the bordering states, exemplify this approach. Through its poetic and visual narratives, Rájácummá reimagines mobility and coexistence, rejecting rigid national boundaries in favor of approaches rooted in the natural and cultural dynamics of the area. By granting equal status to nature and humanity, the project advocates for a vision of sustainable living informed by Sámi traditions and perspectives. This presentation explores how Rájácummá reflects acts of writing and unwriting in its multilingual Sámi and Nordic context while addressing broader cultural and ecological dimensions. It highlights the capacity of literature and art to transcend linguistic and geopolitical borders, fostering dialogue about environmental justice, cultural resilience, and pathways to decolonial futures.
Long abstract
Short abstract
In my paper, I analyze the cultural and social roles of clothing, primarily in relation to identity and interethnic relations. Traditional clothing (gákti) and its modern variations represent multiple meanings for the Sámi, not only through colors and patterns but also through the creation-process.
Long abstract
I outline how certain iconic elements of Sámi culture are used in both national and international contexts based on inductive studies. The Sámi, who live in four countries (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia), are the only indigenous people in the European Union and play a significant role in international indigenous movements. While today the Sámi have autonomy (except in Russia) and have their parliaments in the three Scandinavian countries, they encountered significant oppression until the mid-20th century. Their cultural values were often stigmatized and marginalized. The oppression resulted in a process of assimilation and the disappearance of many cultural elements. In the mid-20th century, a Sámi intellectual group put these stigmatized cultural components at the center of a revitalization process. This movement became so successful that by the final decades of the century, Sámi culture not only strengthened but also gained popularity beyond its ethnic boundaries. By the 21st century, Sámi traditional clothing, and visual motifs had become widely accepted, often appearing in non-Sámi contexts as well, including media events, tourism, and commerce. However, this widespread use has usually not been regarded with pleasure by the Sámi community. It has – as an example – led to even international copyright disputes. The Sámi are trying to prevent or at least limit the free use of their cultural assets by outsiders. I briefly outline some examples when the use of Sámi cultural traits (like Sámi clothing) called forth serious reactions and social movements because the Sámi community considered them as cultural colonization.
Long abstract
Michael Rießler will be a discussant for the Roundtable portion of the combined Panel+Roundtable